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Impact of a general practice based group parenting programme: quantitative and qualitative results from a controlled
S Stewart-Brown1, J Patterson, C Mockford
1Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. sarah.stewart-brown@warwick.ac.uk
Insights
The Webster Stratton parenting program improved parental mental health and reduced child behavior issues initially. However, these positive effects on parenting and child behavior were not sustained at the one-year mark.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Public Health Interventions
- Parenting Support Programs
Background:
- Parenting programs aim to enhance child behavior and parental mental health.
- Long-term effectiveness of group parenting interventions requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the one-year effectiveness of the Webster Stratton Parents and Children Series group parenting program.
- To assess the impact of the parenting program on child behavior problems and parental mental health.
Main Methods:
- A multicentre block randomised controlled trial involving 116 families with children aged 2-8 years.
- Parents in the upper 50% of behavior scores participated in a 10-week program led by health visitors.
- Outcome measures included validated inventories for child behavior, mental health, parenting stress, and self-esteem.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed significant reductions in child behavior problems and improved mental health at immediate and 6-month follow-ups.
- No significant differences were observed between control and intervention groups at the one-year follow-up.
- Qualitative data suggested potential Hawthorne effects or control group contamination, alongside parent-reported improvements in mental health, confidence, and relationships.
Conclusions:
- Parenting programs show potential for promoting mental health and reducing social inequalities.
- Further research is necessary to enhance the long-term effectiveness of parenting interventions.
Aims:
To test the effectiveness at one year of the Webster Stratton Parents and Children Series group parenting programme in a population sample of parents.
Methods:
In a multicentre block randomised controlled trial, parents of children aged 2-8 years in 116 families who scored in the upper 50% on a validated behaviour inventory, took part in Webster-Stratton's 10 week parenting programme led by trained and supervised health visitors. The following outcome measures were used: Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory, Goodman Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale.
Results:
The intervention significantly reduced child behaviour problems and improved mental health at immediate and 6 month follow ups. One year differences between control and intervention groups were not significant. Qualitative results suggest that these findings might be attributable in part to either Hawthorne effects or contamination of control group. At interview parents described ways in which the programme had improved their mental health. They reported gains in confidence and feeling less stressed. Some also reported beneficial changes in their own and their children's behaviour and improved relationships with their children. Some spoke of a need for further sessions to support the behaviour changes they had managed to make, and some the desire for attendance by both parents.
Conclusions:
Parenting programmes have the potential to promote mental health and reduce social inequalities, but further work is needed to improve long term effectiveness.